So, among the Big Adventure Planners and committee members, there was a hubbub of disagreement concerning the best bars to visit in Hell’s Kitchen. The resolution: keep it simple. We’re going to start at Valhalla around 1:30 AM where they have a great atmosphere and many, many beers on taps as well as sampling and end at Circus bar – home of a half-assed circus theme, incredibly cheap beers and always something going on that’s a little north of shady (and I always get the impression that they never close). Depending on how it goes, we may stop at sundry bars along 9th Avenue between the two places as we walk/stagger. Call to locate us.

3:30 AM -4:30Late Night Eating: Diner Grub

Mid-Town West

Time to refresh and refuel. Probably will stop at the Tick Tock Dinner or New Diamond Café or one of the other 50 24-Hour Diners located in Midtown or Hell’s Kitchen. Ah, isn’t New York great?

Ah, Daybreak. We’ll take the 1 Train to the tip of Manhattan to watch a new day dawn. Battery Park is said to have the best view of Sunrise on the island and we can point and laugh at the early, early morning runners at the secluded city park. We will the then be filled with inspiration and epiphanies and we’ll start some sort of crusade and take the world by storm in some manner. Stopping at a 24-Hour Starbucks is also part of this segment of the Adventure.

Okay, we’ll not really an appearance, but we’ll be those stupid people outside waving signs. Yes, both CBS and NBC host a Sunday Morning version of the weekday show that no one watches. And Yes, we’ll have signs to wave. Since there are only about a dozen people on Sunday, we should make quite an impact. Set the DVR and tell your great aunt who is up that early on Sunday to get ready to watch us hang with lesser-known anchor Lester Holt.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

It’s that time again! As promised, all the plans are set and we hope that you’ll join us for the 24-Hour Brooke and Phil’s Big Adventure as we trek through the city that never sleeps. This one has been in the making for a long time and the perfect way to give a Gotham farewell to Summer and a NYC hello to Fall.

Brooke and Phil's 24-Hour Big Adventure –

10:00 AM Saturday, September 13th-

10:00 AMSunday,

September 14th, 2008

Up, Down & All Around New York City

So, once upon a time over drinks with friends last Spring, the question was asked, what can one do for twenty-four straight hours in New York City?(Aside from watching two dozen episodes of a Kiefer Sutherland packed marathon) The better question, we have found, is what can’t you do in 24 hours?. Below is the brief itinerary for our next Big Adventure. As per usual, all the stops are meant to be a) unique to NYC b) relatively cheap, c) incredibly fun and d) for just about everyone. And, no, sleep is not on the menu. Feel free to meet up with us at any stop on the way. Check back on Monday, September 8th for final details and plans.

10:30 AM-11:30(ish)

Brunch atKitchenette

156 Chambers Street. TriBeca

http://www.kitchenetterestaurant.com/brunch.html

Gotta fuel up for the day. This off-the-beaten-bath kinda cutesy, kinda delicious place offers such fine treats as The Bridgehampton – silver dollar pancakes topped with fresh fruit and yogurt.

Noon – 1:30 PM

New YorkTransitMuseum

(AKA The SubwayMuseum)

Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, BrooklynHeights

http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/

Five bucks gets you in to one of the most underrated museums in the city. Placed in an actual decommissioned subway station, they have everything from 1920s subway cars to a collage of subway tokens (or just buy the cuff links!)

1:45- 4:00 PM

Tour of The Brooklyn Brewery

79 N 11th St, Brooklyn

http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/about/

Free tour and cheap beer samplings in their custom beer hall make this one a no-brainer

7:30- 11:30 PM

OSU/ USC Game at Stout

133 West 33rd Street, Midtown Manhattan

http://www.stoutnyc.com/

We’re working on getting a special section (perchance private pool room?) for the biggest college football game of the early fall. Don’t like the pigskin? It’s a great bar with some of the best pub grub in the city

Midnight- 1:30 AM

Upright Citizen’s Brigade

307 W. 26th Street, Chelsea

http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/

Five bucks gets you into some of the best comedy improv in the country. Alums include Amy Poehler, Jason Sudekis and more. Each time Brooke and I have gone, we laughed so hard that our noses bled on everyone. Wait…that’s kinda disgusting.

1:30 AM -3:30 AM

Finest Bars in Hell’s Ktichen

Still narrowing the field, but we’re down to Valhalla, Circus Bar, Vinyl and more

scattered throughout Hell’s Kitchen.

3:30 AM on…

Other Events include fine late,late night dining, watching the sun rise in the best location in Manhattan, being part of the Sunday Morning Today Show/CBS Sunday Morning News, Free Outdoor Concerts and much more. 24 Hours in total. Ts to be crossed, Lower case Js to be dotted. Of course, advance feedback and suggestions are always appreciated.

As always,we’ll also have a handful of surprises and a few things to spice up your day along the way. I’m not making any promises, but two people whose names rhyme with O’llama and McDain may be there in person.

Hope to see you on September 13th and 14th! Check back on Monday, September 8th for final details and plans.Thanks…

Some photos from early May In New York during the Big C Adventure - From Central Park to Criff Dog. Good times indeed. Enjoy these acutely hand-picked photo selections from the most recent Big Adventure...

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

As Saturday approaches, we’ve crossed the Ts and dotted a lower case j for the specifics on where we will be and when. Keep in mind, all times are always a little bit in flux and more of a guide line (except for the film –that just might starting with or without us). Feel free to meet up with us anywhere along the route!

Central Park with Cabernet, Cheese and CrackersHigh Noon - Central Park at the Great Lawn –Enter the Park at 86th & 5th AveWe’ll be on The Great Lawn which is directly behind The Metropolitan Museum of Art. You might have to look for us because, you know, it’s a Great Lawn. It is the biggest stretch of green this side of Gumby!

City Cinemas Village East - Indiana Jones2:15 PM -12th Street and 2nd AvenueHopefully, we’ll have enough people to qualify for the Group Rate Price: $7 tickets instead of $12, but we won’t know until we get there. We are seeing the film in historic and marvelous Theater One. Truly marvelous.

Cocoa Bar-5:30 PM - 21 Clinton St – Between Avenues A&BIt is a little bit of a walk down to Houston, but It will be delicious. I can taste the chocolate already.

Common ground/ Connect Four Tourney7:30 PM - 206 Avenue A - Between 12th St & 13th StAfter Cocoa, we turn around, walk back up toward 12th. The back part of the bar is reserved just for us.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

First and foremost, we apologize for the short notice on this particular Big Adventure. Simply inexcusable. Next time, you’ll get ample notice. At least a month in advance. And trust me, there are some fun things to look forward to this summer....but I'm getting ahead of myself...

Brooke and Phil's Big Adventure –Brought to you by the letter "C"

Saturday, May 31st, 2008Throughout New York City's Lower East Side

Spring has arrived and her older, hotter sister Summer is right behind. This means that it is time for another prime opportunity to enjoy the best of NYC. The familiar and unknown, the sublime and the unique, the high-brow and low class - all wrapped into one day of excitement. As you may have guessed, we're focusing on the ubiquitous and enchanting third letter of the alphabet to sponsor this adventure. You will see that the Letter C theme is far reaching.

Note: More detailed times and info will be posted later this week. Of course, all are invited. Feel free to bring with you whomever you would like. The proverbial more, the proverbial merrier. For now, the day begins with...

Cabarnet, Cheese and Crackers in Central Park - Near 86th and 5th Avenue

We'll meet up in the early afternoon near the Grand Lawn at Central Park to lay back, soak up some sun (the Farmer's Almanac says the day will be perfect), toss various balls & Frisbees and enjoy a laid back setting with wine, various cheeses and edible wafers to spread those afore mentioned cheeses upon.

The Cinema- Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – Union Square-

Next we’ll screen one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Heading downtown to catch a 2:00 PMish show time (movie times are still TBD). We'll hoot and holler as Harrison Ford duels with the Nazis or Evil Cult or whoever he's fighting these days. We plan to get discount passes so we'll need a rough head count a few days before the film. As a warning, Brooke and I plan to re-enact past Indy films by delivering such movie theater gems like "Throw me idol, I'll throw you the Raisinets"

Cocoa Bar - 21 Clinton St – Between Avenues A&B - Early Evening

After the movie, we'll head down to Cocoa Bar. This place is amazing. One of a kind, homemade chocolate lattes, hot chocolates, espressos, chocolate truffles ,candy and more. Simple yet posh. What are we looking forward to the most? Wine and Chocolate Pairings as recommended by the staff. Awesome.

That's right- get those competitive juices flowing. It’s a single-elimination winner takes all Connect Four Tourney. Make sure you practice the horizontal, vertical and diaganal ways to win. Pretty Sneaky, Sis. Entrants play a best of three series against your opponent in hopes to win it all. $3 entry fee ensure, um, a huge cash prize! Common Ground is a wonderful drinking bar overflowing with board games. There will be some pre-arranged drink specials and a solid menu for eats as well.

From Common Ground, it is just a short walk to the Crocodile Lounge. This is one of the most unique bars in New York. Fun atmosphere? Sure. Good drinks? Certainly. .But the kicker is the Free Pizza you get with every beer. Seriously.

We’ll end with some late night grub This is arguably, the best Hot Dog Stand/Bar in the universe. Cheap and delicious. $5.50 will get you two dogs and a beer. But not just any ‘dog. Try the Sourcheese Dog ot the BLT Dog. Or with Avocado. Or Sour cream. And all these years, I’ve just been putting relish and ketchup on mine. How foolish.

We’ll also have a handful of surprises and a few things to spice up your day along the way.

Of course, we don’t except you to join us for the entire day (unless your one of the legendary Big Adventure Die Hards). But we should have more details and times so you can meet us anywhere along the path.

Since everyone needs a back up plan, if everything else fails, we’ll plan to just to Circus Bar in Midtown and get sloshed.

If you feel like seeing what you may have missed or were there for in the past, feel free to check out pictures from our Big Winter Adventure

Hope to see you on May 31st! If you have any questions or need more info:

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Nothing like Two and a half months to really soak in an event before pictures are posted....ah. Now we can safely look back without any possible accusation of being called too nostalgic too quickly. Enjoy these fine photo selections from our last Big Adventure in December...

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